Here's thenext chapter!
Italics = Flashback
Mitchi

Gabriella, The Next Day

I walked through East High and kept my eyes open for the basketball team's captain. I didn't even know his name, but I guessed I'd know soon. He seemed very popular. I was right. After he passed three people I found out that his name was Troy Bolton.

My first period was English today, so I went to my locker to get my books. As I got my books, I heard people whispering.

"Yes, I know."
"Maybe…"
"No! I saw her!"
"What?"
"Yesterday. She was the first one in the gym."
"Really?"
"Yes. It has to be true."
"She really?"
"Yes. She just went there to see Troy Bolton before her lesson started."
"And why?"
"Because that geek has a crush on him."

I needed all my self-discipline not to freak out. First, I'm not a geek. Second, I'm here my second day! They don't know me. And third, I don't have a crush on Troy Bolton. The only thing I knew about him was his name and that his father was beating him.

I took out my English stuff and slammed my locker door shut. I was angry. Those people made themselves a picture of me even though they don't even know who I am.

As I walked to class, people stared, whispered, and pointed at me. Finally I managed to persuade myself to ignore it. It wasn't true, so why should I bother?

Troy

I stood at my locker with Chad and some cheerleaders. They seemed glued to me. I wondered if they'd still want to go out with me if they knew how "great" my life was outside of school. The cheerleader that stood closest to me had her arm linked with mine and was talking about girl stuff, gossip and "most important" – rumors. I didn't really listen and my eyes wandered through the hallway.

"You know Troy, the new girl here has a crush on you."

Just to be polite, I nodded my head at her words. Suddenly, my eyes fell on the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen – it was the girl that bumped into me yesterday.

She had long legs that shone in her cargo jeans.. Her skin was tan and she looked petite, nevertheless curvy. Her face was framed by her shoulder length, ebony, curled hair, which bounced lively with every step she took. Her books were pressed to her chest and she looked at the room numbers with her big brown eyes.

She was perfect…

Cheerleader #1

I just told Troy about the new girl who had a crush on him, when Troy stopped pretending he was listening to me and was began drooling over a girl… that new girl!

She was coming our way and I decided to "welcome" her to East High.

Gabriella

As I searched for my English class, my books flew out of my arms and I fell to the floor. I looked up and saw a smirking cheerleader. Next to her was Troy Bolton and another guy on the basketball team.

Troy looked perplexed and didn't notice that the cheerleaders left. I was still sitting on the ground, my books all around me. I stood up and started picking them up. Suddenly there was another hand on my book. A strong hand – a guy's hand. I looked up directly into a pair of stunning blue orbs. When I focused in on the person's face, I saw that it was Troy Bolton. I stared into his eyes and he stared back into mine. Slowly we both stood up, never breaking the eye contact, and when we both stood straight again, we continued looking into each other's eyes.

We shot back to reality as Chad cleared his throat and made us realize how awkward the situation was.

"Erm… here are your books," Troy gave them to me while his other hand moved to his neck. Was he nervous?

"Thank you." I took them and looked at the floor. The situation was even more awkward now that there was silence.

"Well…are you new here? Because I haven't seen you here before." I looked up again, Troy was smiling slightly.

"Yes, I am new here. Gabriella Montez." I held my hand out for him to shake it.
"I'm Troy Bolton." We shook hands.
I smiled. "Well, it's my second day here and I already get to know you."
He smirked. "Well, what's your first lesson?"
"English."

"Mine too. Come on, I'll walk you." He winked at me and we made our way to English, the other guy following behind us. "Oh, before I forget, this is Chad Danforth." He pointed at him. I smiled and shook hands with him as well.

When we started walking, I realized that Troy was limping badly and his face showed that he was in much pain. I looked at Chad to see he had seen it too.

"Dude, what's wrong? Why are you walking like that?"

Troy's eyes widened for a split second and he seemed to stiffen. "What do you mean? Everything's normal." His voice was cold and apathetic, not like his voice five minutes ago when he helped me with my books.

Chad was slightly taken aback. Troy denied something undeniable. He wasn't walking properly. It was not normal.

I knew it had to do with what was going on between him and his dad.

At Lunch

It turned out that Troy, Chad and I all had lessons before lunch together. After our last class before lunch, I made a decision: Troy definitely needed help.

We both met with Chad, who was at his locker, and walked to the cafeteria. They both went to a spare table with me, so they could introduce me to East High without anyone interrupting us. Soon after Troy started talking, Chad and I started to eat out lunch. Troy just sat there, eating nothing.

Chad

I was worried about Troy when I saw that he couldn't walk properly. I heard his stomach growl during math class, and now I was even more worried because he wasn't eating anything.

Troy

The lack of food started showing, but I didn't dare eat anything. My dad was standing on the other side of the cafeteria, watching me, making sure I wouldn't eat. Like he had told me yesterday evening, no food for two weeks.

I wouldn't eat, I wouldn't give him another chance to beat me.

Although my stomach was growling badly and I felt kind of dizzy, I was strong and I refused to give in.

"Troy? Why aren't you eating?" Gabriella asked. "I heard your stomach growl during math." Chad looked up as well.

I looked up. I needed an excuse, a good excuse. NOW! "I thought it'd be better if I ate after practice…" It was a pure lie – but it seemed to work. I looked at the floor.

I watched as Chad and Gabriella exchanged worried looks and went back to eating their lunch. They bought it. I looked up and my eyes met my dad's. He still stood on the other side of the cafeteria and watched me. He was smirking, proud that his son was obeying him in eating nothing. I looked away, his smile haunting me…

I was lying on my bed; my parents divorced that day. My mom and brother moved out and my dad's girlfriend moved , the door opened and my dad came in. He was smiling, not like his normal smile, it was evil. He walked towards my bed.

I sat up. "Dad?" I was worried by his expression.

"You know why your mom left? Because of you! YOU! She took your brother with her and left me with you!" He stood in front of me, anger sparkling in his eyes. "She hates you! She left because of you!" His breath smelled of alcohol.

He slapped me. "Remember, all I do, I do it out of love! YOU HEAR ME?!" He slapped me again and threw me on the floor.

"Dad, please…" Then his fist started colliding with my jaw.

I still remember the night of my first beating as if it was yesterday. His smile, his breath, his words…

Out of love…

I believed every word he said. He must've been right. Why would my mom leave me with him if she didn't hate me?

The bell rang and signalized the end of lunch break. I jumped up and made my way to my locker because I didn't want to be late again. Chad caught up with me easily because of my limping. Together we made our way to practice, the last two hours of school for today. We changed in our basketball jerseys and walked into the gym. Everyone seemed to have noticed that I was limping but they didn't say anything, because my dad didn't either.

"We have to win the next game! We have to work hard!" The team nodded and we began practicing.

It was hard, difficult, and strenuous. My dad "punished" me even during practice now – he made me work harder than anyone else, preferably through running.

When practice was finally over, I looked forward to when my dad left by car – I wouldn't go with him. Instead, I walked home with Gabriella, after we found out that she lived near me.

Because of my bad leg, I was not as fast as the rest of the team. I was exhausted and my whole body ached. I did everything my dad told me to. I decided to skip showering. I would shower at home – if I had the chance to. I was about to get to my locker when I fell on my knees and heard my dad laugh behind me.

"Pathetic!" I closed my eyes, and my legs started hurting when he kicked them.

My dad walked in front of me and I looked in his face. He spat at me. "Pathetic!"

Gabriella

I walked to the locker rooms because Troy promised he'd walk me home. He was already twenty minutes late. Reaching the locker rooms, I heard a voice shouting. I knew this voice – Coach Bolton! It was Troy's dad.

"Pathetic! You're pathetic! Practice today – PATHETIC!"

I glanced around the corner; I saw Troy sitting on the floor, pressed against a wall, his face showing how much in pain he was in. I saw why moments later. His father was standing on his bad leg, shouting at him about how pathetic he was.

"If you come home, you'll run fifty laps around the block. Did you get that?"

He spat at Troy, added pressure on his bad leg and then finally left.

I hid behind the wall and waited until his dad was gone. I walked to Troy; his eyes were closed and a few tears of pain were visible. His leg was red all over and his shank was slightly swollen. I cleared my throat and his eyes shot open. At first they were fearful but they changed when he saw it was only me.

I looked at him sternly. "Troy, I know what's going on."

He looked at me. "What do you mean? Everything's just fine."

He denied it… again.

Later

Troy

I stood in front of my house. Gabriella and I hadn't said anything on the way home; we only talked about the weather.

She knew it.

I opened the door and stepped in, letting my bag drop on the ground. My dad was waiting for me.

"GO AND RUN NOW!! I'LL WATCH YOU! AND DON'T YOU DARE STOP!"

I did as he told me and started running, although my leg was about to give in any minute. After about thirty rounds I felt dizzy. It must've been because of skipping meals.

My breathing got heavier and black spots began to dance in my vision. Nevertheless, I managed to run all the rounds. I reentered the house, feeling totally exhausted, and walked in my room. I fell on my bed, and closed my eyes. My breathing was uneven and shallow. I felt like fainting. I opened my eyes again and looked at my leg. The shank was swollen and red, and around my ankle a bluish-black bruise was forming, from when my dad stood on it earlier.

Slowly I regained my breath and suddenly, the door opened.

DUH DUH DUH….well who's that?? Please review and sorry for the LONG wait…hope you understand. And it would be totally amazing if I could get 8 – 12 reviews :]
Mitchi